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Fines levied for late campaign finance reports

Two candidates for county surveyor apologized to members of the Wayne County Election Board on Thursday for oversights that led each of them to file their pre-primary campaign finance reports late.

The election board had hearings in the Voter Registration Office at the Wayne County Courthouse for the two surveyor candidates and one political party that missed the filing deadline of noon on April 15. The board met to decide whether to levy a fine, and if so, how much. Fines can range from $1 to $1,000.

Gordon Moore, Republican candidate for surveyor, and Robert "Bob" Willett, Democrat candidate for surveyor, both filed their campaign finance reports on April 20.

The Libertarian Party of Wayne County filed its report on April 21.

Moore and Willett each were fined $5 per day for each day the report was late plus the cost of postage. Their fines totaled $25 plus $4.80 for postage.

Moore, who operates his own business, said it had been very busy at work and because he had several work deadlines of April 25, he mistakenly thought the finance report was due at the same time.

"It's all my fault," Moore said.

According to Moore's report, his campaign raised no money during the reporting period between Jan. 1 and April 15.

Willett said that in moving from his home of 20 years to a new residence on East Chester Road, a box of his important papers, including the finance filing packet, was misplaced.

"I knew it was close, but I didn't know when. When I got the new packet, I knew I was in trouble," Willett said. "It's really disturbing for something like that to happen. Usually, I'm right on top of things."

According to Willett's report, his campaign raised no money during the reporting period between Jan. 1 and April 15.

Election board members Linda Paust, the Republican representative who serves as the board's president; Martha Jones, who represents the Democrats; and Wayne County Clerk Debra Berry chose to be lenient with Moore and Willett because they were "first-time offenders." Jones recommended the $5 per day fines for each man and the other members agreed.

The Libertarian Party also was fined $5 per day plus postage for a total of $30 plus $4.80 in postage.

In a letter to the election board, Libertarian Party member Susan Bell explained she had agreed to help the party's treasurer with filling out the required forms. However, she became ill on March 13 and has since made multiple emergency room and doctor's visits.

Bell wrote that immediately upon learning of the oversight, the forms were prepared and submitted. Bell added she wanted to attend the board's hearing, but her health would not allow it.

"This could happen to anyone," Jones said.

According to the Libertarian Party's report, the party raised $707.64 during the reporting period between Jan. 1 and April 15.

"Even though these are things that we try to be lenient with, we still feel the need to make these candidates aware that it is important they be on time and accurate," Berry said. "It's not fair to the other candidates that were on time."